A night after winning the 2022-23 MVP award, Joel Embiid will return to the court as the Philadelphia 76ers prepare to face the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pomey.
Embiid has been recovering from a Grade 2 sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. He first suffered the injury on April 20 in Game 3 of the Sixers’ previous round against the Brooklyn Nets, who would go on to miss the team’s clinching performance in Game 4 on April 22.
Without the league’s MVP, the Sixers faced their historic rival, the Boston Celtics, in Game 1 as the heavy underdog but overcame the odds behind James Harden’s 45-point effort. Now with a chance to bring the series home to Philadelphia, the Sixers are maximizing their opportunity to do so with a powerful 2-0 series lead.
In four 2022-23 regular-season matchups against the Celtics, Embiid boasts averages of 36.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 61.2% from the field.
